Sand shroud



Sept. 10, 1963 w. E. TONE EI'AL SAND SHROUD Filed April 10, 1961 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,103,181 SAND SHROUD Waldo E. Tone, 503 S. Franklin, and Richard D. Tone, Box1632, both of Monahans, Tex. Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,784 1 Claim. (Cl. 103-219) This invention relates to submerged pumps, and more particularly to pumps operating in open wells or low volume water wells wherein the pump is set below open water bearing formation.

By way of explanation, it might be stated that pumps operating in open wells, below open water bearing formation, frequently become clogged due to the direct suction of fluid which may contain sand, gravel or other foreign matter, making frequent pulling or removal of the pump necessary for the removal of such foreign matter.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a pump shroud which is so constructed and arranged that all fluid entering the pump enters through the screen at the lower end of the shroud, to the end that all foreign matter is separated from the fluid by the screen as the fluid is being pump prior to the passage of the fluid to the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump shroud which is constructed to permit of vertical movement of the pump against the shroud with a jarring action to dislodge the shroud, in the event that the shroud becomes [fouled or lodged in the Well.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a shroud having a tapered upper end for guiding the pump from the well opening, eliminating the possibility of the pump hanging at the edge of the well hole, when being pulled from the well.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing.

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper end of a submerged pump and shroud constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 1A is a vertical sectional view through the lower end thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the vertical discharge pipe of a submerged motor pump including a pipe Coupling 5' which pipe 5 connects with a pump body 6 in which the pump impeller, not shown, is mounted, all of which is conventional structure and on which the shroud forming the subject matter of the present invention is mounted.

The sand shroud of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 7, and embodies an elongated plastic tubular member closed throughout the entire length, the lower end of the shroud being provided with a screen *8 which is held in place by screws 9 extending through the lower end of the tubular member 7 as better shown by FIGURE 1A of the drawing.

At the upper end of the shroud is a plastic top 10 which is formed with a reduced end 11 that fits within the upper end of the member 7, where it is held in position by means of the screws 12, the reduced end 11 providing an annular shoulder 13 that rests on the upper end of the member 7.

The top 10 is formed with an opening 14 through which the electric wires 15 extend which wires provide the usual 3,103,181 Patented Sept. 10, 1963 electrical connection between the motor pump 6 and sourceof electricity supply.

Extending upwardly from the upper surface of the top 10 is a tubular guide 16 through which the discharge pipe 5 of the motor pump extends, there being provided vertical webs 17 formed integral with the top and tubular guide reinforcing the top.

The outer edges of said webs 17 are inclined at 18 and provide guides for guiding the assembly trom the well hole during the pulling of the pump and shroud.

As shown by FIGURE 1 of the drawing, there is provided a substantial space between the tubular guide 16 and discharge pipe 5 to permit of free vertical movement of said pump and pipe 5 with respect to the shroud 7, in the event that the shroud becomes lodged or stuck within the well hole.

The reference character 19 indicates a steel bumper ring which is mounted on the discharge pipe 5 for free sliding movement and is adapted to seat on the upper end of the tubular guide 16, so that if the shroud becomes lodged within the Well hole, the pump may be moved vertical-ly with the coupling 5 striking the bumper ring 19 with a reciprocating action, releasing the pump shroud and eliminating the necessity of removing the pump to service the same.

It might be further stated that while the shroud is shown and described as used with submersible pumps, it is within the scope of the invention to effectively use the same with turbine pumps by plugging the electric wire outlet openings 14.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, we have provided a shroud which may be readily mounted on a submerged pump for operating preferably in water wells which will protect the pump from direct suction of fluid which may contain sand, gravel or other foreign material and at the same time pass the water over the motor pump main taining the motor cool, thereby prolonging the life of the pump and eliminate frequent pulling of the pump,

and since all fluid pumped must enter through the screen of the shroud, the damaging elements contained in the fluid will be removed prior to the fluid entering the pump.

It will further be seen that since the travel of the water entering the shroud from the top is reversed prior to the entrance of the water into the pump, foreign particles will be separated from the water by this action.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a submersible pump for use below open water bearing formations including an inlet and a vertical discharge pipe connected to the top of the pump, and a bumper ring on said pipe, a shroud comprised of a tubular member concentric with said pipe and extending a substantial distance below the inlet of said pump and having a bottom opening, a sand screen positioned transversely across said bottom opening, said screen having an annular flange with threaded openings therein aligned with peripheral openings extending through the lower end of said shroud, screws extending through said aligned openings removably securing said screen in position, a top plate for said tubular member having a central opening and a reduced end forming an annular shoulder on said top, said reduced end fitting within the top of said tubular member and said shoulder seating on the top thereof, said reduced end having threaded openings therein aligned with corresponding peripheral openings about the upper end of said shroud, additional screws extending through said last-mentioned aligned openings for releassurrounding said central opening and loosely surrounding said discharge pipe, vertical reinforcing webs having inclined outer edges extending between the top of said tubular guide and the outer edge of said top plate, whereby said pump may be moved vertically relative to said shroud with said bumper ring engaging the top of said tubular guide to limit downward movement thereof and said top 7 4 of electricity through said offset opening to said pump to provide electric current to actuate said pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,482,163 Streda Jan. 29,1924 1,519,042 Osborne Dec; 9, 1924 2,648,286 Bergh Aug. 11, 1953 2,699,723 Ecker Jan. 18, 1955 2,748,714 Henry June 5, 1956 Miles et al May 5, 1959 

